Accountability and Accuracy With Industrial Equipment and Supplies

When you invest in industrial equipment, you need it to be as accurate as possible. In addition, when you create processes that utilise your equipment, you need to ensure that your employees are accountable for safety standards as well as accuracy. Hi! My name is Neil, and this blog is going to look at industrial equipment and supplies, and in particular, I plan to write about accuracy and accountability. I am a proud dad of two little boys. Currently, I work part-time while they are in nursery, and my beautiful wife is the full time worker in our home. I love our arrangement, and I especially enjoy that it gives me time to create things like this blog. I hope that you enjoy reading my posts.

No. 4 vs. 2B Stainless Steel Finish

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Stainless steel is considered a unique type of metal alloy made of chromium and steel (carbon/iron). There are quite a few different finishes applied to stainless steel, including standard finishes to more specialty options, including bead blasting, etched, polished or brushed. In most cases, corrosion resistance is a main factor that determines the finish used on stainless steel. A general rule of thumb is the rougher the surface of the stainless steel, the less corrosion resistant it is.

When you are investing in some type of metal fabrication service, it is important to consider how the end product will be used and how resistant to corrosion it should be.

2B Stainless Steel Finish

A common mill finish, 2B is the most popular option. With this method, the steel is cold rolled, heat-treated and then pinch and pickled passed. This results in a somewhat reflective surface that is similar to a cloudy mirror. To achieve the 2B mill finish, an additional cold roll pass is provided. This is the standard finish for various options of stainless steel including 316L, 304L, 304, 301 and 201. Steel products that commonly have the 2B finish include wheel covers, industrial equipment, solar panels, plumbing fixtures, flatware, and bakeware.

The No. 4 Stainless Steel Finish

This is often referred to as the "workhorse" finish. It is very easy to maintain, making it ideal for high-traffic areas, including work surfaces, elevator doors, bus shelters, stainless steel sinks, kitchen equipment and handrails. When the No. 4 finish is applied, the metal has been mechanically polished with a very fine abrasives belt to remove small particles of metal from the top layer of the steel. The result is short lines on the metal, creating a type of linear effect.

Stainless steel with the No. 4 finish typically appears different from one manufacturer to another because of the various grit sizes and belts that are available for use. In most cases, it will range from 120 to 320 grit, based on the requirements of the project. The higher that the grit is, the finer the lines will be, and the more reflective the surface will become. It is important to note stainless steel with the 2B finish will be more reflective than stainless steel with the No. 4 finish.

If you have a metal fabrication project to do, it is important to consider what the desired outcome is and how the end product will be used. This will help you find the right finish for the item.

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31 May 2016